Peroxonium salts

ABSTRACT

The peroxonium salts, H 3  O 2   +  Sb 2  F 11   - , H 3  O 2   +  SbF 6   -  and H 3  O 2   +  AsF 6   - , are prepared by protonation of H 2  O 2  in anhydrous HF solutions of the corresponding Lewis acids. The salts decompose producing the corresponding H 3  O +  salts and O 2  in the temperature range of from 20° to 50° C. and thus are useful as oxidizers in situations where the production of oxygen in the 20°-50° C. temperature range is desirable. The salts also provide a convenient means for storing H 2  O 2  in a solid form.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to peroxonium salts and to method for their preparation.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Materials which will produce O₂ at relatively low temperatures are in demand. For example, such a material could be used to produce oxygen for use in manned space vehicles and the like simply by placing a quantity of the material in a heatable container and heating the material when oxygen production was desired.

H₂ O₂ is a very useful producer of molecular oxygen. For example, it is used to generate excited oxygen for use in chemical lasers. Also, it is used as a monopropellant in liquid rocket engines. However, it has a drawback in that it is difficult to handle. It readily undergoes autocatalytic decomposition. Accordingly, it would be convenient if this material could be stored in a stable salt form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention, the first known peroxonium salts are prepared. The salts are H₃ O₂ ⁺ SbF₁₁ ⁻, H₃ O₂ ⁺ SbF₆ ⁻ and H₃ O₂ ⁺ AsF₆ ⁻. The salts are prepared by protonation of H₂ O₂ in anhydrous HF solutions of the corresponding Lewis acids. The salts may be used to produce oxygen by heating them to a temperature in the range of from 20° to 50° C. whereupon they decompose producing the corresponding H₃ O⁺ salts and O₂. The salts also provide a convenient means for storing H₂ O₂ in a solid form.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following specific examples describe the preparation of the three peroxonium salts of this invention.

EXAMPLE I PREPARATION OF H₃ O₂ ⁺ AsF₆ ⁻

The Lewis acid, AsF₅ (15.39 mmol) and anhydrous HF (50.76 mmol) were combined at -196° C. in a passivated Teflon-FEP ampule equipped with a valve. The mixture was allowed to melt and homogenize. The ampule was then taken to a drybox and H₂ O₂ of 99.95% purity (15.29 mmol) was syringed in at -196° C. The ampule was then transferred back to the vacuum line and evacuated at -196° C. It was then kept at -78° C. for 2 days to allow reaction. After this period, no evidence was found for material noncondensible at -196° C., i.e., there was no evidence of O₂ evolution. The mixture was then (after 2 days) warmed to -45° C. and a clear solution resulted. Material volatile at -45° C. was removed by pumping for 10 hours and was collected at -196° C. A white solid residue resulted which was marginal stability at ambient temperature. On the basis of the observed material balance (weight of 15.29 mmol H₃ O₂ ⁺ AsF₆ ⁻ calculated: 3.423 g; found: 3.47 g) the conversion of H₂ O₂ to H₃ O₂ ⁺ AsF₆ ⁻ was complete within experimental error. The compound was shown by infrared and Raman spectroscopy to contain the H₃ O₂ ⁺ cation and the AsF₆ ⁻ anion.

EXAMPLE II PREPARATION OF H₃ O₂ ⁺ SbF₆ ⁻

Antimony pentafluoride (27.96 mmol) was added in a drybox to a passivated Teflon FEP U-tube equipped with two valves and a Teflon-coated magnetic stirring bar. Anhydrous HF (522.9 mmol) was added on the vacuum line at -196° C., and the mixture was homogenized by stirring at 20° C. In the drybox, hydrogen peroxide (27.97 mmol) was syringed into the U-tube at -196° C. The cold tube was transferred back to the vacuum line and was evacuated. The tube was warmed from -196° C. to -78° C. for 1 hour with agitation which resulted in the formation of a finely divided white solid, suspended in the liquid HF. When the mixture was warmed to 20° C., the white solid completely dissolved. No gas evolution was observed during the entire warm-up operation, and no noncondensable material could be detected when the mixture was cooled again to -196° C. The HF solvent was pumped off at -22° C. for 3 hours resulting in 7.566 g of a white solid (weight calculated for 27.96 mmol of H₃ O₂ ⁺ SbF₆ ⁻ =7.570 g), stable at 20° C. The compound was shown by vibrational spectroscopy to be composed of H₃ O₂ ⁺ cations and SbF₆ ⁻ anions. Additional support for the composition of the product was obtained by allowing a sample of H.sub. 3 O₂ ⁺ SbF₆ ⁻ to thermally decompose at about 45° C. This decomposition produced O₂ and the known H₃ OSbF₆ ⁻ salt in almost quantitative yield.

EXAMPLE III PREPARATION OF H₃ O₂ ⁺ Sb₂ F₁₁ ⁻

The synthesis of this compound was carried out in a manner identical with that described above for the preparation of H₃ O₂ ⁺ SbF₆ ⁻, except for using an excess of SbF₅. Thus, the combination of SbF₅ (14.83 mmol), HF (407 mmol), and H₂ O₂ (6.83 mmol) produced 3.581 g of a white solid (weight calculated for 6.83 mmol of H₃ O₂ ⁺ SbF₆ ⁻ 1.17SbF₅ =3.581 g), stable up to about 50° C. The compound was shown by vibrational and NMR spectroscopy to contain the H₃ O₂ ⁺ cation and Sb₂ F₁₁ ⁻ as the principal anion.

All of the above peroxonium salts decompose to form O₂ and the corresponding H₃ O⁺ salts at temperatures in the range of from 20° to 50° C. Thus, to use the salts of this invention to produce O₂ one may heat them to a temperature with the stated range.

As has been indicated above, the salts of this invention also provide a means for storing H₂ O₂ in a solid form. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A peroxonium salt having the formula H₃ O₂ ⁺ X⁻ wherein X- is selected from the group of anions having the formulas SbF₆ ⁻ and AsF₆ ⁻.
 2. A method for preparing a solid salt having the formula H₃ O₂ ⁺ X⁻ wherein X⁻ is selected from the group consisting of SbF₆ ⁻, said method comprising the steps of:A. dissolving a Lewis acid selected from the group consisting of AsF₅ and SbF₅ in anhydrous HF to form a solution; B. adding H₂ O₂ in an amount equimolar to that of said Lewis acid to the solution to form a reaction mixture; and C. allowing the mixture to react to form a solid salt.
 3. A method for preparing a salt containing H₃ O₂ ⁺ cations and Sb₂ F₁₁ ⁻ anions, said method comprising the steps of:A. dissolving SbF₅ in anhydrous HF to form a solution: B. adding H₂ O₂ to said solution to form a reaction mixture, said H₂ O₂ being added in an amount calculated to provide an excess of SbF₅ in said reaction mixture; and C. allowing the mixture to react. 